Pointer tracking for eye-level scanners and displays

ABSTRACT

A wearable computer device may include multiple imaging devices or other sensors working in concert to recognize conditions, objects or areas of an environment in which the wearable computer device is situated. The device may include a imaging device and a sensor, which may but need not be a imaging device, for sensing and capturing information regarding the environment. The sensor may be configured to perform one or more specific tasks, such as recognizing particular items, and the imaging device may be generally configured to perform multiple tasks. Upon the execution of a specific task by the sensor, information or instructions regarding the specific task may be provided to a wearer of the device, or may cause the imaging device to automatically operate to gather further information. Such information gathered from the imaging device or the sensor may be provided to the user, such as on a computer display mounted to the device.

BACKGROUND

Currently, some wearable computer devices include cameras or otheroptical sensors for capturing still or moving images. Such cameras maybe used to capture images along an axis defined by an extension of abody on which the wearable computer devices are worn. For example, awearable computer device worn about a head of a human may be mounted toan article of clothing or accessory such as a cap or pair of eyeglasses,and may include a camera aligned to capture images in a direction inwhich the human is looking, or in a direction in which the head ispointed. In this regard, the wearable computer device may functionallyrecord or replicate the field of view of the human, such as by capturingimages or other information that the human sees, based on theorientation of the wearable computer device about the head. Such imagesor other information, or portions thereof, may then be presented on acomputer display (e.g., a miniaturized head-up display in a field ofview of the human) that may be viewed by either or both of the human'seyes.

While most wearable computer devices having cameras or other opticalsensors may capture images along a selected axis or in a selecteddirection, such devices are typically unable to capture images ofobjects or features that are not within a field of view of the user,i.e., along axes or in directions other than the axis or direction ofthe field of view. Moreover, such devices typically may not beprogrammed or configured to automatically capture images within suchfields of view, or to automatically recognize objects or features thatare expressed within such images. Therefore, the functionality of mostwearable computer devices is hindered in that the extent of theircapacity to analyze such images, or to provide information to a userregarding contents of such images, is limited to what is already beingviewed by the user. Furthermore, cameras or other optical sensors thatare mounted to or provided within wearable computer devices maytypically be trained only upon a manual movement of the user, such as atwist or tilt of a head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C are views of eye-level scanners, in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of components of a system including aneye-level scanner, in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a system including an eye-level scanner in use, in accordancewith embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of one process for evaluating items usingeye-level scanners, in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a system including eye-level scanners in use, in accordancewith embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of one process for evaluating items usingeye-level scanners, in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a system including an eye-level scanner in use, in accordancewith embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a system including an eye-level scanner in use, in accordancewith embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of one process for evaluating items usingeye-level scanners, in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As is set forth in greater detail below, the present disclosure isdirected to enhancing the capacity of wearable computer devices torecognize and provide information to a user regarding items that arewithin range of the wearable computer devices, e.g., on one or morecomputer displays or other computer output devices. Specifically, thesystems and methods disclosed herein are directed to wearable computingdevices which may include a primary imaging device (e.g., a digitalcamera) or other sensor for capturing information, e.g., one or morestill or moving images along a trainable axis or in a trainabledirection, as well as a secondary imaging device or sensor. Thesecondary imaging device or other sensor may be configured to scan orotherwise analyze information in a vicinity of the wearable computerdevice in search for one or more predefined items, conditions, statusesor events, particularly within a specific depth of view of the sensor.Such items, conditions, statuses or events may be recognized based onany attribute thereof.

When the secondary imaging device or sensor recognizes one or more ofthe predefined items, conditions, statuses or events, an indicator suchas a signal or an alarm may be provided to the primary imaging device orsensor, to a wearer of the wearable computer device, or to any otherapparatus or user thereof. The indicator may be shown on a computerdisplay, e.g., an eye-level display associated with the wearablecomputer device, or provided by any other computer output device such asa speaker or printer, or in another format, such as a text message orelectronic mail message, and any action may be taken in response to theindicator. For example, the wearer may then manually train the primaryimaging device along a particular axis or in a particular direction(i.e., to evaluate the item or condition directly). Alternatively, theprimary imaging device may be automatically trained along the particularaxis or in the particular direction.

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, systems 100 having eye-level scanners110 are shown. The eye-level scanner 110 of FIG. 1A includes an eyeglassframe 111, a primary imaging device 120 mounted to the eyeglass frame111, a secondary sensor 130 and an eye-level display 140. The eye-levelscanner 110 of FIG. 1B includes a primary imaging device 120 and asecondary sensor 130 mounted to opposite sides of an eyeglass frame 111,as well as an eye-level display 140. The secondary sensors 130 of FIG.1A or FIG. 1B may be functionally joined with the primary imagingdevices 120, or with one or more external networks (not shown), throughwireless communications over a standard protocol such as Bluetooth® orany Wireless Fidelity (or “WiFi”) protocol. The eye-level scanner 110 ofFIG. 1C includes an eyeglass frame 111 and a primary imaging device 120mounted thereto, along with a secondary sensor 130 that may bephysically and/or functionally joined to the primary imaging device 120and an eye-level display 140.

Accordingly, the systems and methods of the present disclosure mayinclude a primary camera or sensor that may be configured to perform anynumber of general functions, and a secondary camera or sensor that maybe configured to perform one or more specific functions, e.g., to searchfor one or more specific items or conditions. The primary cameras orsensors and the secondary cameras or sensors of the present disclosuremay be provided in a contiguous unit, or may be provided as discreteparts of a system that are in communication with one another. Moreover,although some of the primary imaging devices 120 or the secondarysensors 130 of FIGS. 1A and 1C are shown as mounted to an eyeglass frame111 to be worn about a head of a user, the systems and methods disclosedherein are not so limited, and one or more of the primary imaging device120 or a secondary sensor 130 may, but need not, be worn or mounted toany body part. Similarly, although the eye-level displays 140 of FIGS.1A, 1B and 1C are shown as configured within a lens of the eyeglassframe 111, the systems and methods disclosed herein are not so limited,and information may be provided to a user of the systems 100, or toother individuals or machines, via any form of output device, includingdisplays, speakers, printers or the like, which need not be dedicatedfor use in associated with the eye-level scanner 110, or worn by theuser.

Those of ordinary skill in the pertinent arts recognize that ascomputers continue to evolve, computer-related components such ascircuit boards, processors, memory, data stores or other storagedevices, and any other electrical components are becoming smaller andsmaller over time. According to commonly accepted historicalobservations, computer-related performance metrics such as an averagenumber of transistors on an integrated circuit, average processingspeeds, average memory capacities and average pixel densities ofcomputer displays have all seen persistent exponential ornear-exponential growth over the last several decades. Technologicalimprovements in computer technology have enabled computer components tobe miniaturized, thereby increasing the numbers and types ofenvironments and applications in which such components may be utilized.Further, computers now include or may be associated with multipleaccessories or peripheral devices such as digital cameras or othersensors, printers, displays, speakers and the like. Such accessories orperipherals may be physically mounted to or otherwise joined with thecomputers, or functionally or operatively joined with the computers viaone or more wired or wireless means.

Modern optical sensors such as digital cameras operate by electronicallycapturing reflected light from objects and assigning quantitative valuesto one or more aspects of the reflected light, such as pixels. Unlike atraditional camera, which directs light passing through an opticalelement toward an array of light-sensitive chemical receptors that areembedded in a film, and exploits the chemical reactions occurringthereon to generate an image associated with the passed light, a digitalcamera may include one or more sensors having one or more filtersassociated therewith. The sensors of a digital camera may captureinformation regarding any number of pixels of the reflected lightcorresponding to one or more base colors (e.g., red, green or blue)expressed in the reflected light, and store values associated with thepixel colors as one or more data files in a data store or transmit suchvalues to an external computer device for further analysis orreproduction. A digital camera may include one or more onboard datastores, as well as one or more removable data stores (e.g., flash memorydevices), and the data files stored in the one or more data stores maybe printed onto paper, displayed on one or more computer displays, orsubjected to one or more analyses, such as to identify items expressedtherein.

A digital camera may capture one or more images of items within itsfield of view, which is determined as a function of a distance between asensor and a lens, viz., a focal length, within the camera. Where anobject appears within a depth of field, or a distance within the fieldof view where the clarity and focus is sufficiently sharp, a digitalcamera may capture light that is reflected off objects of any kind to asufficiently high degree of resolution using the sensor, and storeinformation regarding the reflected light in one or more data files.

Information and/or data regarding features or objects expressed in adigital image may be extracted from the image in any number of ways. Forexample, a color of a pixel, or a group of pixels in a digital image maybe determined and quantified according to one or more standards, e.g.,the RGB (“red-green-blue”) color model, in which the portions of red,green or blue in a pixel are expressed in three corresponding numbersranging from 0 to 255 in value, or a hexadecimal model, in which a colorof a pixel is expressed in a six-character code, wherein each of thecharacters may have a range of sixteen. Moreover, a texture of a featureor object expressed in a digital image may be identified using one ormore computer-based methods, such as by identifying changes inintensities within regions or sectors of the image, or by defining areasof a image corresponding to specific surfaces. Furthermore, outlines ofobjects may be identified in a digital image using one or morealgorithms or machine-learning tools. For example, some such algorithmsor tools may recognize edges, contours or outlines of objects in thedigital image, or of portions of objects, and may match the edges,contours or outlines of the objects against a database containinginformation regarding edges, contours or outlines of known objects.

Like other computer components, digital cameras that may be associatedwith computers have also seen concomitant decreases in size andincreases in utilization over the last several years. Digital camerasare now frequently included in portable computing devices such assmartphones or tablet computers, and feature sufficiently small lenses,sensors, filters, apertures, shutters or other components, as well asmotors and/or controllers for manually or automatically operating one ormore of the components, or for reorienting the axis or direction of thecameras. Such cameras may further include any type of lens, such asfixed-focus or fixed-zoom lenses, as well as optical zoom or digitalzoom lenses. Further, such cameras may also include pointing devicessuch as laser or light-emitting diode (or “LED”) pointers or pointingdevices for aiming or orienting cameras. For example, an LED or laserpointer may illuminate an object externally, or may be used toilluminate a shutter or other finder window, and a distance or othermetric regarding the object may be determined using the pointer or anyother means. Such a distance or metric may be used to configure one ormore cameras or sensors, i.e., by adjusting a focal length of a camera.

Moreover, other forms of optical computer-based sensors, including barcode readers, data tag readers, color sensors, temperature sensors, heatsensors or motion sensors, may also be included in computer equipment ifsuch sensors are appropriately sized. Additionally, such sensors may bedirectly incorporated into a camera or other optical sensor. Forexample, a bar code reader associated with a computer device may readand recognize a bar code such as a one-dimensional bar code or atwo-dimensional quick response bar code, or “QR” bar code, byilluminating the bar code using a light source (e.g., a diode, acharge-coupled device or a laser), and measuring intensities of lightreflecting off alternating white and black portions of the bar code.Alternatively, a bar code reader may read and recognize a bar code bycapturing an image of the bar code, and performing one or more analysesof the image in order to decode the bar code. A data tag reader maycapture information regarding one or more data tags, such as bokodes,which may include one or more LED devices covered with masks or lensesthat may be captured or recorded using a digital camera or other imagingdevice, and interpreted in order to identify any information or dataassociated therewith. Those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art wouldfurther recognize that imaging devices such as digital cameras may beused to recognize other items or identifiers, including characters,numbers, symbols or colors, which may be further associated with otherinformation or data.

The systems and methods of the present disclosure are directed toproviding wearable computer devices having one or more cameras orsensors, such as the devices 110 of FIGS. 1A-1C. Such devices mayinclude a primary camera or sensor, such as a camera dedicated to theperformance of one or more general tasks, as well as a secondary cameraor sensor, which may also be a camera, and may be programmed orconfigured for the performance of one or more specific tasks relating toan environment in which a device 110 is situated, such as by recognizingitems, conditions, statuses or events based on images or other digitaldata that may be captured by the primary camera or sensor, or thesecondary camera or sensor. The secondary camera or sensor may alsosense temperatures, colors or other environmental information, which mayalso be analyzed in order to identify an item, a condition, a status oran event associated therewith.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, once an item, acondition, a status or an event has been recognized using the secondarycamera or sensor, the primary camera or sensor may be automaticallytrained or otherwise operated to capture one or more images that may beassociated with the item, the condition, the status or the event. Bytraining the secondary camera or sensor to search for a small subset ofavailable information associated with a particular function, such tosearch for bar codes, bokodes, characters, numbers, symbols, colors,trademarks, identifiers or other information, particularly within aspecific field of view or at a specific depth of field, the capacity ofthe wearable computing device to identify information may be greatlyenhanced.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a userwearing a wearable computing device of the present disclosure may locatean object of interest. The user may place the object in a field of viewof the computing device, and illuminate the object with a pointer. Aspecialized sensor (e.g., a camera, temperature sensor, heat sensor ormotion sensor) associated with the wearable computer device maydetermine whether the object is of the type that the specialized sensoris configured to detect. If the illuminated object is one of the type ofobjects that the system is configured to detect, the system may read inon a marking on the object (e.g., a bar code, a bokode, a character, anumber, a symbol or a color) with the sensor, which may collect dataregarding the marking and transmit the data to a computing unit forprocessing. Any relevant information collected from the marked object,or relating to the marked object, may be generated and provided to theuser, such as by transmitting a signal, sounding an alarm or displayingat least some of the information on an eye-level display of thecomputing device.

According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure,information regarding triggering events, metrics or standards may beprogrammed into a computing unit of a wearable scanning device includinga primary sensor and a secondary sensor. The secondary sensor may beconfigured to automatically scan an environment in which the scanningdevice is situated in order to determine whether one or more of thetriggering events, metrics or standards is observed. Such metrics mayrelate to any predetermined items, conditions, statuses or events, e.g.,an identification of a specific object or identifier (such as a barcode, a bokode, a character, a number, a symbol or a color on an item),a sensed temperature or other environmental condition, or motion of oneor more items within the field of view of the secondary sensor. Once oneor more of the triggering events, metrics or standards is detected, aprimary sensor may take a reading of any aspect of the environment inwhich a triggering metric was observed. The primary sensor may furthercapture information regarding the aspect of the environment in which thetriggering events, metrics or standards were observed, and transmit suchinformation to the computing unit of the wearable scanning device, whichmay display some or all of the information associated with the aspect ofthe environment on an eye-level display, or provide some or all of theinformation to the user in any other manner.

According to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, awearable device having a computing unit and multiple sensors isprogrammed with information regarding one or more items, conditions,statuses or events. When one of the sensors detects an object, thecomputing unit may determine whether the object may be associated withthe programmed information. If the object is associated with theinformation, the computing unit may select one of the sensors to capturefurther data regarding the object, such as by reconfiguring the sensorthat detected the object, or by configuring one or more of the othersensors, to capture data regarding the object. The data captured fromthe various sensors may be presented to the user of the wearable deviceor another user, such as on a head-up display or in any other format.

The systems and methods disclosed herein may be used in any number ofapplications. For example, at a construction site, a secondary sensor ofa wearable scanning device or computer device may search for extremetemperature conditions, high levels of flammable materials, or any otherpotential hazard, and automatically train a primary camera in adirection of the potentially hazardous condition, or otherwise alert auser of the device to the potentially hazardous condition. As anotherexample, while a doctor performs surgery on a patient, a secondarycamera may capture and evaluate images of the patient, including thepresence of blood, flesh or bone matter, and provide informationregarding the identified matter to the user, even while a primary camerarecords the surgery.

As yet another example, a wearable scanning device or computing devicemay be used to identify evolving traffic patterns using one or moresensors, i.e., by automatically configuring one or more sensors torecognize aspects of the patterns, such as red brake lights, greentraffic lights, or motion of automobiles or persons in traffic, and toreorient one or more additional sensors in a specific direction, or toalert a driver, when such patterns are encountered. As still anotherexample, a worker in a fulfillment center may perform one or morefunctions while wearing a wearable computing device having a primarycamera and a secondary sensor. The secondary sensor may search for barcodes or other like identifiers, items or other features of the bar codeor identifiers, which may be captured and identified by the primarycamera, and any relevant information regarding bar codes, items orfeatures to the user. In this regard, the wearable computing device mayaid the user in conducting an inventory assessment or quality controlanalysis, in stowing or retrieving items, or in returning the items tostock.

As is discussed above, the wearable computer devices of the presentdisclosure may be used in any number of systems, and in any number ofapplications. Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram of one system 200including an eye-level scanner device in the form of glasses 210 worn bya worker 202 is shown. The system 200 further includes a fulfillmentcenter 250, an external user 260 and an auxiliary display 270 that areconnected to one another across a network 280, such as the Internet.

As is shown in FIG. 2, the glasses 210 include a computing device 212having a processor 214 and a memory 216 for performing one or moregeneral or specific functions, and may be connected to the network 280,as is indicated by line 218. The glasses 210 further include a camera220, a sensor 230 and an eye-level display 240.

The computing unit 212 and the processor 214 may be in communicationwith the memory 216, the camera 220, the sensor 230 and/or the eye-leveldisplay 240, or other external components via the network 280. Thememory 216 may contain computer program instructions that the processor214 may execute in order to implement one or more embodiments of thepresent disclosure, and may further include random access memory(“RAM”), read-only memory (“ROM”) or any other form of persistent and/ornon-transitory computer-readable media. The memory 216 may further storean operating system thereon, for the purpose of providing generaladministration and operation functions for the processor 214 and othercomponents of the glasses 210, as well as other information forimplementing any aspects of the present disclosure.

The camera 220 may be any form of optical recording device mounted to orotherwise associated with the glasses 210, e.g., a digital camera thatmay be mounted to a frame of the glasses 210, such as the primaryimaging device 120 mounted to the frame 111 of FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C. Forexample, the camera 220 may be used to photograph or otherwise recordimages of the structures, facilities or other elements for storing itemsinside the fulfillment center 250, as well as the items within thefulfillment center 250, or for any other purpose. The sensor 230 may beany form of sensing device for detecting conditions in an environment inwhich the glasses 210 are situated, and may be operatively orfunctionally joined with the camera 220 by any wired or wireless means,such as is shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C. Any number or type of sensormay be provided in accordance with the present disclosure, including butnot limited to cameras or other optical sensors, temperature sensors,heat sensors, radiation sensors or position and/or orientation sensors.Those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art will recognize that thesensor 230 may be a camera, and that the glasses 210 may include anynumber of cameras or sensors.

The eye-level display 240 may include any type or form of output devicethat may be positioned at or near an eye-level of a user. The eye-leveldisplay 240 may thus include a display device that is mounted or visiblewithin a field of view of the user, including but not limited to asufficiently small monitor or a head-up display projected upon a lens ofthe glasses 210. For example, the eye-level display 240 may incorporateany of a number of active or passive display technologies, such aselectronic ink, liquid crystal display (or “LCD”), LED or organiclight-emitting diode (or “OLED”) displays, cathode ray tubes (or “CRT”),projection screens or the like. Those of ordinary skill in the pertinentart would further realize that any other form of output device, such asan audio speaker, may be associated with the eye-level display 240, ormay act as a substitute for the eye-level display 240.

The fulfillment center 250 may be any facility that is adapted toreceive, store, process and/or distribute items. The fulfillment center250 may operate one or more order processing and/or communicationsystems using a computing device such as a computer 252 and/or softwareapplications having one or more user interfaces 254 (e.g., a browser),or through one or more other computing machines that may be connected tothe network 280, as is indicated by line 258, in order to transmit orreceive information in the form of digital or analog data, or for anyother purpose. The computer 252 may also operate or provide access toone or more reporting systems for receiving or displaying information ordata regarding workflow operations, and may provide one or moreinterfaces, such as the user interface 254, for receiving interactions(e.g., text, numeric entries or selections) from one or more operators,users or workers in response to such information or data. The computer252 may further operate or provide access to one or more engines foranalyzing the information or data regarding the workflow operations, orthe interactions received from the one or more operators, users orworkers.

The receiving station 251 may include any apparatuses that may berequired in order to receive shipments of items from one or more sourcesand/or through one or more channels, including but not limited to docks,lifts, cranes, jacks, belts or other conveying apparatuses for obtainingitems and/or shipments of items from carriers such as cars, trucks,trailers, freight cars, container ships or cargo aircraft (e.g., mannedaircraft or unmanned aircraft, such as drones), and preparing such itemsfor storage or distribution to customers. The storage area 253 mayinclude one or more predefined two-dimensional or three-dimensionalspaces for accommodating items and/or containers of such items, such asaisles, rows, bays, shelves, slots, bins, racks, tiers, bars, hooks,cubbies or other like storage means, or any other appropriate regions orstations. The distribution station 255 may include one or more regionsor stations where items that have been retrieved from a designatedstorage area may be evaluated, prepared and packed for delivery toaddresses, locations or destinations specified by customers, also by wayof carriers such as cars, trucks, trailers, freight cars, containerships or cargo aircraft (e.g., manned aircraft or unmanned aircraft,such as drones).

The fulfillment center 250 may further include one or more controlsystems that may generate instructions for conducting operations at oneor more of the receiving station 251, the storage area 253 or thedistribution station 255, which may be associated with the computer 252or one or more other computing machines, and may communicate with theworker 202, the external user 260 or the auxiliary display 270 over thenetwork 280, as indicated by line 258, through the sending and receivingof digital data. Additionally, the fulfillment center 250 may includeone or more systems or devices (not shown in FIG. 2) for determining alocation of one or more elements therein, such as cameras or other imagerecording devices. Furthermore, the fulfillment center 250 may alsoinclude one or more workers or staff members, including but not limitedto the worker 202, who may handle or transport items within thefulfillment center 250. Such workers may operate one or more computingdevices for registering the receipt, retrieval, transportation orstorage of items within the fulfillment center, such as the computer252, or a general purpose device such a personal digital assistant, adigital media player, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a desktopcomputer or a laptop computer, and may include any form of input and/oroutput peripherals such as scanners, readers, keyboards, keypads,touchscreens or like devices.

The external user 260 may be any entity or individual, other than theworker 202, that utilizes one or more computing devices, such as thecomputer 262 or any other like machine that may operate or access one ormore software applications including one or more user interfaces 264.The computer 262 may be connected to or otherwise communicate with theworker 202 and/or the glasses 210, the fulfillment center 250 or theauxiliary display 270 through the network 280, as indicated by line 268,by the transmission and receipt of digital data. For example, theexternal user 260 may review information identified by the camera 220 orthe sensor 230 on the user interface 264, or perform any otherfunctions, using the computer 262, which, like the computer 252, may bea general purpose device such a personal digital assistant, a digitalmedia player, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer or alaptop computer, and may include any form of input and/or outputperipherals such as scanners, readers, keyboards, keypads, touchscreensor like devices.

The auxiliary display 270 may be any form of external display device onwhich information, such as information identified by the camera 220 orthe sensor 230, may be displayed. Like the eye-level display 240, theauxiliary display 270 may incorporate any of a number of active orpassive display technologies, such as electronic ink, LCD, LED, OLED,CRT, projection screens or the like. In particular, because theauxiliary display 270 need not be limited by any physical constraints,the auxiliary display 270 may, in accordance with some embodiments, takethe form of a large-scale monitor, television screen or ribbon-boarddisplay.

The computers, servers, devices and the like described herein have thenecessary electronics, software, memory, storage, databases, firmware,logic/state machines, microprocessors, communication links, displays orother visual or audio user interfaces, printing devices, and any otherinput/output interfaces to provide any of the functions or servicesdescribed herein and/or achieve the results described herein. Also,those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art will recognize that usersof such computers, servers, devices and the like may operate a keyboard,keypad, mouse, stylus, touch screen, or other device (not shown) ormethod to interact with the computers, servers, devices and the like, orto “select” an item, link, node, hub or any other aspect of the presentdisclosure.

Those of ordinary skill in the pertinent arts will understand thatprocess steps described herein as being performed by a “worker,” by“glasses,” by a “fulfillment center,” or by an “external user” may beautomated steps performed by their respective computer systems, orimplemented within software modules (or computer programs) executed byone or more general purpose computers. Moreover, process steps describedas being performed by a “worker,” by “glasses,” by a “fulfillmentcenter,” or by an “external user” may be typically performed by a humanoperator, but could, alternatively, be performed by an automated agent.

The worker 202, the fulfillment center 250 and/or the external user 260may use any web-enabled or Internet applications or features, or anyother client-server applications or features including electronic mail(or E-mail), or other messaging techniques, to connect to the network280 or to communicate with one another, such as through short ormultimedia messaging service (SMS or MMS) text messages. For example,the glasses 210 may be adapted to transmit information or data in theform of synchronous or asynchronous messages to the fulfillment centercomputer 252, the external user 260, the auxiliary display 270 oranother computer device in real time or in near-real time, or in one ormore offline processes, via the network 280. Those of ordinary skill inthe pertinent art would recognize that the worker 202, the fulfillmentcenter 250 and/or the external user 260 may operate any of a number ofcomputing devices that are capable of communicating over the network,including but not limited to set-top boxes, personal digital assistants,digital media players, web pads, laptop computers, desktop computers,electronic book readers, and the like. The protocols and components forproviding communication between such devices are well known to thoseskilled in the art of computer communications and need not be describedin more detail herein.

The data and/or computer executable instructions, programs, firmware,software and the like (also referred to herein as “computer executable”components) described herein may be stored on a computer-readable mediumthat is within or accessible by computers, such as the computing device212, the computer 252 or the computer 260, or any computers or controlsystems utilized by the worker 202, the fulfillment center 250 and/orthe external user 260 and having sequences of instructions which, whenexecuted by a processor (e.g., a central processing unit, or “CPU”),cause the processor to perform all or a portion of the functions,services and/or methods described herein. Such computer executableinstructions, programs, software and the like may be loaded into thememory of one or more computers using a drive mechanism associated withthe computer readable medium, such as a floppy drive, CD-ROM drive,DVD-ROM drive, network interface, or the like, or via externalconnections.

Some embodiments of the systems and methods of the present disclosuremay also be provided as a computer executable program product includinga non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having stored thereoninstructions (in compressed or uncompressed form) that may be used toprogram a computer (or other electronic device) to perform processes ormethods described herein. The machine-readable storage medium mayinclude, but is not limited to, hard drives, floppy diskettes, opticaldisks, CD-ROMs, DVDs, ROMs, RAMs, erasable programmable ROMs (“EPROM”),electrically erasable programmable ROMs (“EEPROM”), flash memory,magnetic or optical cards, solid-state memory devices, or other types ofmedia/machine-readable medium that may be suitable for storingelectronic instructions. Further, embodiments may also be provided as acomputer executable program product that includes a transitorymachine-readable signal (in compressed or uncompressed form). Examplesof machine-readable signals, whether modulated using a carrier or not,may include, but are not limited to, signals that a computer system ormachine hosting or running a computer program can be configured toaccess, or including signals that may be downloaded through the Internetor other networks.

As is discussed above, the systems and methods of the present disclosuremay be used to evaluate any type of items, conditions, statuses orevents. Referring to FIG. 3, a view 300 of an eye-level scanner 310 inuse by a user 302 is shown. The eye-level scanner 310 is shown with avariety of fields of view illuminated by a pointer P. For example, whilewearing the eye-level scanner 310, the user 302 may place a parcel 304in a field of view and illuminate one or more markings on the parcel304, such as a bar code 306 or an address label 308. A secondary cameraor sensor associated with the eye-level scanner 310 having a pointer Pmay identify the markings, e.g., the bar code 306 or the address label308, as such, and a primary camera or sensor may capture one or moreimages of the markings, or otherwise read and interpret the markings.The pointer P may act as a guide for the primary camera or sensor, whichmay be manually or automatically trained to recognize the pointer, or tocapture the markings, and may also serve as a basis for identifying adistance to the markings. Once the markings have been read andinterpreted, the eye-level scanner 310 may take any correspondingaction, including to provide information regarding the parcel 304 to theuser 302 or to any other entity or individual, such as a worker at thefulfillment center 250 or the external user 260 of FIG. 2, or to displayat least some of the information in an eye-level display or othercomputer display, such as the auxiliary computer display 370.

Similarly, while wearing the eye-level scanner 310, the user 302 mayalso place the auxiliary display 370 or another user 390 in a field ofview of the eye-level scanner. A secondary camera or sensor associatedwith the eye-level scanner 310 having a pointer P may recognize one ormore characters 372 displayed on the auxiliary display 370, or recognizea face 392 of the other user 390, and a primary camera or sensor maycapture one or more images of the auxiliary display 370 or the face 392,and the characters 372 or the face 392 may be identified accordingly.Once the characters 372 or the face 392 have been identified, theeye-level scanner 310 may take any corresponding action, including toprovide information regarding the characters 372 on the auxiliarydisplay 370 or the other user 390 to the user 302, e.g., by displayingsuch information on an eye-level display, or to any other entity orindividual.

As is discussed above, a wearable computer device of the presentdisclosure may be trained to determine whether objects within a field ofview and/or at a depth of field of a camera or other sensor are of apredetermined type or kind, and to evaluate the objects to identifyfurther information regarding the objects. Referring to FIG. 4, a flowchart 400 representing one embodiment of a process for evaluating itemsusing eye-level scanners is shown. At box 410, a user wearing a scanningsystem in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosurelocates an object of interest, and at box 420, the user places theobject within his or her field of view. For example, referring again toFIG. 3, the user 302 wearing the eye-level scanner 310 may locate andplace the parcel 304, the auxiliary display 370 or the other user 380 inhis or her field of view as shown.

At box 420, the user illuminates the object with a pointer, and at box440, the system detects a marking on the object with a specializedsensor, e.g., a camera or other sensor specifically directed torecognizing such markings. The pointer may be used to calculate adistance to the object, or to otherwise guide the specialized sensor toa location or specific aspect of the object. At box 450, the systemdetermines whether the marking on the object, or the object itself, isof a type that the specialized sensor is configured to detect. Forexample, where the specialized sensor is adapted to identify andinterpret text, numbers or markings such as bar codes, the systemdetermines, at box 450, whether the marking detected at box 440 is abody of text or numbers or a marking such as a bar code, a bokode, a QRcode, a character, a number, a symbol, or a color. If the marking on theobject is not of a type that the specialized sensor is adapted toidentify, then the process advances to box 495.

If the marking is of a type that the specialized sensor is adapted todetect, then the process advances to box 460, where the system reads inthe marking on the object, and to box 470, where the system sends dataregarding the marking on the object to a computing unit for processing.For example, where the marking on the object is a bar code, the systemmay recognize the bar code as such, read and decode the bar code, andsend the decoded bar code to a computing unit for further analysis.

At box 480, the computing unit processes the data, and at box 490, thecomputing unit generates and sends display data to the eye-leveldisplay. For example, the computing unit may identify an object based ona decoded bar code, and may further identify information regarding theobject, which may be displayed on an eye-level display, such as theeye-level display 140 of the eye-level scanner 110 of FIG. 1A, 1B or 1C.Any type of information or data that may be identified based on theprocessing of the data at box 480 may be provided to the user, such asaudio, video or multimedia information, in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

At box 495, the system determines whether the user intends to continueoperations with the system. If the user continues to operate the system,then the process returns to box 410, where the user locates anotherobject of interest. If the user no longer intends to operate the system,then the process ends.

Accordingly, the systems and methods of the present disclosure mayconfigure an eye-level camera or other sensor to recognize one or moremarkings or other indicia, and to determine whether a particular item,condition, status or event may be associated with the indicia. Once anitem, condition, status or event has been associated with the indicia,information may be identified regarding the item, condition, status orevent, and provided to a user on an eye-level display, or in any othermanner.

Referring to FIG. 5, a system 500 including eye-level scanners 510A,510B in use is shown. The system 500 includes a shelving system 520having a plurality of shelves 530, 540, 550 including spaces 532, 536,542, 546, 552, 556 for accommodating items, as well as identifiers 534,538, 544, 548, 554, 558 associated with such spaces.

As is shown in FIG. 5, the eye-level scanner 510A is worn by a user502A, and the eye-level scanner 510B is worn by a user 502B. The user502A may place the space 534 in the field of view of the eye-levelscanner 510A, and may align the pointer onto the identifier 544, viz., aone-dimensional bar code. According to the systems and methods of thepresent disclosure, one or more sensors of the eye-level scanner 510Amay identify the space 542 based on the identifier 544, and recognizethat the space 542 is empty. Therefore, upon identifying that the space542 is empty, information regarding the space 542 may be displayed on aneye-level display of the eye-level scanner 510A (e.g., a message such as“Space 542 is Empty,” or “Inventory Required in Space 542” may bedisplayed), transmitted from the eye-level scanner 510A to an externalcomputing device over the network 580, or otherwise provided to the user502A.

Similarly, the user 502B may place the space 536 in the field of view ofthe eye-level scanner 510B, and may align the pointer onto theidentifier 538, viz., a QR bar code. One or more sensors of theeye-level scanner 510B may identify the space 536 based on theidentifier 538, and recognize that the space 536 includes a particularnumber of items. Upon identifying the space 536 and the number of itemstherein, information regarding the space 538 may be displayed on aneye-level display of the eye-level scanner 510B (e.g., “Twelve Bottlesof Chardonnay in Space 536”), transmitted from the eye-level scanner510B to an external computing device over the network 580, or otherwiseprovided to the user 502B.

Therefore, the systems and methods of the present disclosure may beemployed to identify items and to automatically evaluate a status of theitems, e.g., to conduct an inventory assessment or quality controlanalysis. The pointers of the present disclosure may take any form, andmay be used to provide guidance to one or more sensors, which may bemanually or automatically trained to locate and follow a pointer on anitem, or to calculate a distance to the item (e.g., through laser-rangefinding or other known means).

As is discussed above, the systems and methods of the present disclosuremay be configured to observe one or more metrics through the use of asensor mounted to a wearable scanning device, and to cause or modify theoperation of the sensor, or another sensor, based on the one or moremetrics. Referring to FIG. 6, a flow chart 600 representing oneembodiment of a process for evaluating items using eye-level scanners isshown. At box 610, a set of triggering metrics is programmed into acomputing unit of a scanner device, such as the computing unit 212 ofthe glasses 210 of FIG. 2. At box 620, a secondary sensor of the scannerdevice automatically scans a field of view. The secondary sensor may beconfigured to search for items within a fixed field of view, i.e., alongan axis or in a direction that may coincide with a field of a view ofthe user, and/or for items at or near a specific depth of field.Alternatively, the secondary sensor may be configured to evaluatedynamic fields of view, or varying depths of field, such as by rotating,translating or adjusting one or more elements of the sensor on a regularbasis.

At box 625, the secondary sensor takes a reading of data, e.g., an imageor other form of sensed information or data, from the field of view. Atbox 630, the scanner device determines whether the secondary sensor dataindicates a condition, an object or an area meeting the triggeringmetrics. For example, referring to FIG. 5, the scanner device maydetermine whether the secondary sensor has identified a bar code, e.g.,the bar codes 542, 550, or any other item specified in the triggeringmetrics. If the secondary sensor has not detected such a condition, anobject or an area, then the process ends.

If the secondary sensor data indicates such a condition, an object or anarea, however, then the process advances to box 640, where the primarysensor takes a reading of data regarding the condition, the object orthe area. For example, referring again to FIG. 5, if the secondarysensor identifies a marking as a bar code, the primary sensor maycapture an image of or otherwise read the bar code. At box 650, thescanner device determines whether the condition, the object or the areais of the type that the primary sensor is configured to detect. If thecondition, the object or the area is not of the type that may bedetected by the primary sensor, then the process ends.

If the condition, the object or the area is of the type that may bedetected by the primary sensor, however, then the process advances tobox 660, where the primary sensor and the secondary sensor transmit datafrom their respective readings to a scanner device computing unit forprocessing. For example, if a bar code recognized by the secondarysensor may be read and interpreted by the primary sensor, then theprimary sensor sends information to the computing unit, such as an imageof the bar code from the camera 220 to the computing unit 212 of FIG. 2,or a code (e.g., a set of text, numbers or other characters) obtainedfrom an analysis of the bar code.

At box 670, the scanner device computing unit processes the datareceived from the primary sensor and the secondary sensor, and at box680, the scanner device computing unit generates information regardingthe condition, the object or the area analyzed by the primary sensor andthe secondary sensor. For example, referring again to FIG. 5, acomputing unit may identify a space 542, 536, based on a reading of thebar codes 544, 538, or a recognition of the presence or absence of theitems therein, and may generate information regarding such spaces oritems, e.g., “Space 542 is Empty,” or “Twelve Bottles of Chardonnay inSpace 536,” accordingly. At box 690, the scanner device computing unitmay cause such information to be displayed on an eye-level display ofthe scanner device, e.g., the eye-level display 140 of the eye-levelscanners 110 of FIG. 1A, 1B or 1C, and the process ends. Alternatively,the scanner device computing unit may cause such information to bedisplayed on another computer display, such as the auxiliary display 270of FIG. 2, or provided to the user by way of another output device, suchas an audio speaker or printer, or in another format, such as a textmessage or electronic mail message.

Accordingly, the systems and methods may provide two or more cameras orother sensors that may work in concert with one another to recognize anyconditions, objects or areas based on one or more triggering metricsassociated with one or more of the sensors. When such a triggeringmetric is recognized, information regarding the triggering metric, orthe condition, the object or the area, may be provided to the user inany format, such as on an eye-level display, or by way of any otheroutput device.

Referring to FIG. 7, a system 700 including an eye-level scanner 710 inuse is shown. The eye-level scanner 710 includes a camera 720, a sensor730 and an eye-level display 740. The camera 720 defines a field of viewincluding an area 770 having an object 772 with an associated marking774 thereon (e.g., a bar code), and the sensor 730 includes a pointer Pthat illuminates the marking 774. As is also shown in FIG. 7,information 760 regarding the area 770, the object 772 or the marking774 may be shown on a user interface on the eye-level display 740.

As is discussed above, any type of information may be obtained usingprimary or secondary cameras or sensors in accordance with the presentdisclosure, and provided to the user. For example, the sensor 730 maylocate the marking 774 on the object 772 and determine a range betweenthe eye-level scanner 710 and the marking 774, or capture any otheravailable information regarding an environment in which the eye-levelscanner 710 is located. The camera 720 may capture one or more images ofthe marking 774, the object 772 or the area 770, and interpret theimages to identify information 760 accordingly.

The information 760 may be identified or accessed by any means ormethod. For example, the camera 720 or the sensor 730 may recognize theobject 772 or the area 770 based on one or more images thereof. Thecamera 720 may be instructed to capture a plurality of images of theobject 772 or the area 770, to form a collage, or to process such imagescollectively through one or more photogrammetric analyses, which may beconfigured to identify not only outlines of objects but also specificitems within images, including but not limited to trademarks, charactersor other text. For example, referring again to FIG. 7, the object 772 orthe area 770 may be recognized as being or including drinking glassesthrough one or more object recognition techniques. Alternatively, thecamera 720 or sensor 730 may recognize the object 772 or the area 770based on the marking 774 associated therewith.

As is shown in FIG. 7, the information 760 may be presented to the useron the eye-level display 740, which may be any type or form of computerdisplay associated with the scanner 710 and accessible or visible to auser thereof. The information 760 includes an identifier 762 of theobjects recognized, as well as an inset 764 including other information764 regarding the objects, viz., a time and date at which theinformation is identified, as well as a temperature of the space inwhich the objects are located, which may be identified or determinedusing one or more of the camera 720 or the sensor 730.

As is also discussed above, the wearable computer devices or wearablescanner devices of the present disclosure may, upon identifying orotherwise recognizing any conditions, objects or areas based on one ormore triggering metrics associated with one or more sensors, provideinstructions or other information to a user or wearer of such devicesregarding the triggering metrics, even where such triggering metrics arenot identified within the field of view of the user or wearer. Theinstructions may be provided to the user or wearer directly, i.e., onone or more computer displays or through one or more other outputdevices. Alternatively, the instructions may be automaticallyimplemented, i.e., such as by automatically training or repositioning asecond sensor after identifying or recognizing a condition, an object oran area using a first sensor.

Referring to FIG. 8, a system 800 including an eye-level scanner 810worn by a user 802 is shown. Except where otherwise noted, referencenumerals preceded by the number “8” in FIG. 8 indicate components orfeatures that are similar to components or features having referencenumerals preceded by the number “7” shown in FIG. 7.

The eye-level scanner 810 of FIG. 8 may include a camera, a sensor andan eye-level display. As is shown in FIG. 8, the user 802 is placing aportion of a shelving system 820 having a plurality of shelves 830, 840,850 in a field of view of the camera 820. The shelves 830, 840, 850include spaces 832, 836, 842, 846, 852, 856 for accommodating items, aswell as identifiers 834, 838, 844, 848, 854, 858 associated with suchspaces.

When the user 802 views a first space 832 of the shelves 830, 840, 850with the camera, information 860 regarding the first space 832,including images of the items stored thereon, may be displayed on theeye-level display. Concurrently, the sensor may scan an environment inwhich the eye-level scanner 810 is located, and identify another marking848 on items in a second space 846 which may be associated with one ormore triggering metrics. When the sensor recognizes the marking 848,information regarding the marking 848 may be provided to the user 802,e.g., on an eye-level display such as the eye-level display 140 of FIG.1A, 1B or 1C. For example, as is shown in FIG. 8, the information 860includes an instruction 862 (viz., “Soft Tissues Located in Area 846(turn right)”) notifying the user 802 that a specific item may belocated outside of his or her field of view, and recommending that theuser 802 reorient his or her field of view to locate the item. Any otherinformation or data regarding the first space 832, or the second space850, may be captured or recognized by the camera or the sensor, andpresented to the user 802 or other users by way of an eye-level displayor another output device, such as the auxiliary display 270, thecomputer 252 or the computer 262 of FIG. 2.

Additionally, those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art willrecognize that the instruction 862 may further automatically operate oneor more components of the present disclosure. For example, instead ofdisplaying the instruction 862, viz., “Soft Tissues Located in Area 846(turn right),” on the eye-level display 840, the systems and methodsdisclosed herein may cause a camera or any other associated component ofthe eye-level scanner 810 to be repositioned, such as by automaticallyrotating the camera upon an identification of the marking 848. Anyinstruction may be provided, either to a user directly, or automaticallyto one or more components (e.g., cameras, sensors or displays on theeye-level scanner 810 or another device), based on informationidentified by a camera or a sensor in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

The systems and methods of the present disclosure may furtherselectively operate one or more sensors in order to gather informationregarding any objects or features having any associated metrics, pointsof interest or relevant thresholds. Referring to FIG. 9, a flow chart900 representing one embodiment of a process for evaluating items usingeye-level scanners is shown. At box 910, a wearable device having acomputing unit and multiple sensors is programmed with informationregarding metrics, points of interest and relevant thresholds. Suchinformation may correspond to any items, conditions, statuses or eventsthat may be encountered in an environment in which the wearable deviceis situated, or an environment in which the wearable device may bereasonably expected to be utilized.

At box 920, one of the multiple sensors detects an object. The objectmay be identified in any manner, such as when the object is locatedwithin a field of view of a sensor, or following an automatic scanperformed by the sensor. At box 930, it is determined whether thedetected object is consistent with one of the metrics, points ofinterest or relevant information. For example, if the sensor identifiesan item having a specific feature, a specific temperature or a specificradiation level, the wearable device may determine whether the feature,the temperature or the radiation level satisfies one of the metrics, isa point of interest or exceeds a particular threshold.

If the detected object is consistent with one or more of the metrics,points of interest or relevant thresholds, then the process advances tobox 940, where a computing unit on the wearable device identifies asensor to capture data regarding the object. For example, where an itemis detected using a sensor configured to perform a specific function,such as to capture images or read bar codes, QR codes, bokodes,characters, numbers, symbols, or colors that are located within aspecific depth of field, the computing unit may identify one of thesensors that may be adapted to gather further data regarding the item.

At box 950, the computing unit configures the identified sensor tocapture further data regarding the detected object. For example, thecomputing unit may modify a setting on the sensor that originallydetected the object, e.g., by changing a focal length or shutter speedof a camera, or may program another sensor to take further readings ofdata regarding the object. At box 960, the identified sensor capturesthe data and provides the data to the computing unit.

At box 970, the computing unit determines whether additional dataregarding the object is required. If any further information regardingthe object is required, then the process returns to box 940, where asensor is identified for the purpose of gathering further information.If no further information regarding the object is required, then theprocess advances to box 980, where the computing unit determines whetherfurther operation of the wearable device is required. If any furtheroperation is desired, then the process returns to box 920, where asensor detects an object. If no further operation is desired then theprocess ends.

Although the disclosure has been described herein using exemplarytechniques, components, and/or processes for implementing the presentdisclosure, it should be understood by those skilled in the art thatother techniques, components, and/or processes or other combinations andsequences of the techniques, components, and/or processes describedherein may be used or performed that achieve the same function(s) and/orresult(s) described herein and which are included within the scope ofthe present disclosure. For example, although many of the embodimentsdescribed herein or shown in the accompanying figures refer to the useof wearable computer devices or wearable scanner devices in thefulfillment of orders of items that have been place at an onlinemarketplace, viz., at fulfillment centers, the systems are not solimited, and may be utilized in connection any relevant application inwhich the use of cameras or sensors to provide information to users maybe desired.

Likewise, references to a “primary” or “first” camera or sensor, or a“secondary” or “second” camera or sensor, are ordinal in nature, and donot imply any limitation in the capacity or function of either camera orsensor. Rather, except where otherwise expressly noted herein, a“primary” or “first” camera or sensor may perform the same functions asa “secondary” or “second” camera or sensor, and vice versa.

Furthermore, any type of sensor or sensing device may be utilized by orassociated with a wearable computing device of the present disclosure,including but not limited to microphones, air monitoring sensors (e.g.,oxygen, ozone, hydrogen, carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide sensors, orsmoke detectors), speedometers, pressure monitoring sensors (e.g.,barometers), infrared sensors, ozone monitors, pH sensors, magneticanomaly detectors, metal detectors, radiation sensors (e.g., Geigercounters, neutron detectors, alpha detectors), altimeters, attitudeindicators, depth gauges, gyroscopes, compasses, accelerometers,position detectors (e.g., detectors using one or more Global PositioningSatellite systems), or the like.

It should be understood that, unless otherwise explicitly or implicitlyindicated herein, any of the features, characteristics, alternatives ormodifications described regarding a particular embodiment herein mayalso be applied, used, or incorporated with any other embodimentdescribed herein, and that the drawings and detailed description of thepresent disclosure are intended to cover all modifications, equivalentsand alternatives to the various embodiments as defined by the appendedclaims. Moreover, with respect to the one or more methods or processesof the present disclosure described herein, including but not limited tothe flow charts shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the order in which the boxes orsteps of the methods or processes are listed is not intended to beconstrued as a limitation on the claimed inventions, and any number ofthe boxes or steps can be combined in any order and/or in parallel toimplement the methods or processes described herein. Also, the drawingsherein are not drawn to scale.

Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or“may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understoodwithin the context as used, is generally intended to convey in apermissive manner that certain embodiments could include, or have thepotential to include, but do not mandate or require, certain features,elements and/or boxes or steps. In a similar manner, terms such as“include,” “including” and “includes are generally intended to mean“including, but not limited to.” Thus, such conditional language is notgenerally intended to imply that features, elements and/or boxes orsteps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one ormore embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or withoutuser input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or boxesor steps are included or are to be performed in any particularembodiment.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respectto exemplary embodiments thereof, the foregoing and various otheradditions and omissions may be made therein and thereto withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: providing a wearableapparatus having a primary imaging device, a secondary imaging device,at least one computer processor and at least one memory device; storinginstructions for identifying a type of item attribute in the at leastone memory device; capturing at least one first image of an object usingthe secondary imaging device; analyzing the at least one first image todetermine whether the at least one first image includes an itemattribute of the type; in response to determining that the at least onefirst image includes the item attribute of the type, adjusting theprimary imaging device to place at least a portion of the object in afield of view of the primary imaging device; capturing at least onesecond image of the object using the primary imaging device; and storingan association between the attribute and the at least one second imagein at least one data store.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: determining at least one of a direction or a distance to theobject using the secondary imaging device, wherein the primary imagingdevice is adjusted based at least in part on the direction or thedistance.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generatinginformation regarding the object based at least in part on one of the atleast one first image or the at least one second image; and causing apresentation of at least a portion of the information regarding theobject.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least a portion of theinformation is presented on the wearable apparatus.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the item attribute is at least one of a bar code, a QRcode, a bokode, a character, a number, a symbol, or a color.
 6. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executableinstructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed,cause a computer system having at least one computer processor toperform a method comprising: operatively associating a first imagingdevice with a first sensor, wherein an apparatus having at least one ofthe first imaging device or the first sensor mounted thereon is adaptedto be worn on a body; selecting information regarding at least onedefined attribute; receiving with the first sensor information regardingan environment in which the apparatus is located; determining that theinformation regarding the environment is associated with the at leastone defined attribute; generating a signal regarding the at least onedefined attribute; and operating the first imaging device in response tothe signal.
 7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6,wherein operating the first imaging device in response to the signalfurther comprises: capturing at least one image of an object using thefirst imaging device.
 8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 7, wherein operating the first imaging device in response to thesignal further comprises: adjusting the first imaging device based atleast in part on the information regarding the environment.
 9. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein operatingthe first imaging device in response to the signal further comprises:determining at least one of a distance to the object or a direction tothe object based at least in part on the information regarding theenvironment; and wherein the first imaging device is adjusted based atleast in part on the distance to the object or the direction to theobject.
 10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7,wherein the method further comprises: generating information regardingthe object based at least in part on the at least one image of theobject; and causing a presentation of at least some of the informationregarding the object.
 11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 10, wherein the object is at least one of a bar code, a QR code, abokode, a character, a number, a symbol or a color, and whereingenerating information regarding the object based at least in part onthe at least one image of the object comprises: decoding the object; andidentifying the at least one item based at least in part on the decodedobject.
 12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10,wherein the at least one computer display is mounted to the apparatus.13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein themethod further comprises: generating information regarding the objectbased at least in part on the at least one image of the object; anddetermining at least one attribute of the object based at least in parton the information regarding the object.
 14. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the method furthercomprises: generating information regarding the object based at least inpart on the at least one image of the object; and transmitting at leastsome of the information regarding the object to an external computerdevice over a network.
 15. The non-transitory computer-readable mediumof claim 6, wherein the method further comprises: sending for display atleast some of the information regarding the environment.
 16. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the firstsensor is a second imaging device, and wherein the information regardingthe environment comprises an image captured by the second imagingdevice.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6,wherein the information regarding the environment comprises at least oneof a color, a temperature or a location.
 18. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the apparatus furthercomprises a wearable frame, and wherein the at least one of the firstimaging device or the first sensor is mounted to the wearable frame. 19.The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein thewearable frame is adapted to be worn about a head of the body; andwherein the first imaging device and the first sensor are mounted to thewearable frame.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim6, wherein the first sensor is at least one of: an imaging device; amicrophone; an air monitoring sensor; a pressure monitoring sensor; aninfrared sensor; a radiation sensor; or a position sensor.
 21. Awearable computer system comprising: a primary imaging device mounted toa frame, wherein the frame is adapted to be worn on at least a portionof a human body; a secondary sensor mounted to the frame; a computingdevice in communication with at least one of the primary imaging deviceor the secondary sensor, wherein the computing device is configured toimplement one or more services, and wherein the one or more services areconfigured to: identify information regarding a plurality of triggeringevents in at least one data store; capture information using thesecondary sensor; determine whether a triggering event has occurredbased at least in part on the information captured using the secondarysensor; in response to determining that the triggering event hasoccurred, capture at least one image using the primary imaging device;and store an association between the at least one image and thetriggering event in the at least one data store.
 22. The wearablecomputer system of claim 21, wherein the one or more services arefurther configured to: determine at least one of a distance associatedwith the triggering event or a direction associated with the triggeringevent; and adjust the primary imaging device based at least in part onthe distance or the direction associated with the triggering event. 23.The wearable computer system of claim 21, wherein the one or moreservices are further configured to: generate information regarding thetriggering event based at least in part on the at least one imagecaptured using the primary imaging device.
 24. The wearable computersystem of claim 23, further comprising at least one computer display,wherein the one or more services are further configured to: cause adisplay of at least some of the information regarding the triggeringevent on the at least one computer display.